What is the Gospel?

What is the gospel? Well, the word gospel means "good news." Good news about what? The good news that God so loved the world He gave His only Son, and whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. The good news that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The good news that Jesus died for our sins and  was raised from the dead. The good news that by God's grace we are saved through faith in Christ. The good news that God is reconciling all things to Himself. The good news that Jesus bore our sins on the cross that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. The good news that Jesus reigns forever.

Now, if that doesn't sound like good news, that's because you don't understand the bad news. You have sinned against a holy God and He will destroy you in His righteous judgment. But God shows His love for us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. By faith in Jesus, you are forgiven. You're no longer the object of God's wrath but the object of His mercy. And that's good news.

The gospel is not doing nice things for people, but a believer will show the love of Jesus. The gospel is not miraculous healings, but a believer who was dead in their sins has been raised to life in Christ. The gospel is not worldly prosperity, but a believer will inherit the heavenly kingdom of God.

The gospel is a message. Therefore, it must be spoken. Only those who believe the gospel, who repent of their sin and follow Jesus, will be saved from the judgment of God. But how will they know unless they are told? You must believe the gospel, then go and share the good news, when we understand the text.

What is a Christian?

1 Peter 4:16 says, "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." What is a Christian? Very simply, a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ.

The word was first used at Antioch when the Greeks called Jesus followers Christians. Before that the followers of Christ referred to themselves as disciples. So, what is a disciple then? Well, a disciple is... a follower of Jesus. But what does that mean to follow Jesus?

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words," I will be ashamed of him on the day of judgment.

Jesus also said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Meaning that you must value Christ above everything. After all, Jesus gives us everything, dying on the cross for our sins, so that all who believe in Him will live forever in heaven.

Being a Christian means you follow Jesus with your whole life. You turn from sin and be holy. You obey His word, the Bible. You love His people, the church. You love others and share His gospel.

Following Jesus is not easy road. Jesus Himself said people will hate us just for His name. But praise God, we're following the one who rose from the dead. He will bring us into His kingdom. Being a Christian will cost you everything. But it's worth the cost, when we understand the text.

What is the Church?

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

Church is translated from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning a called-out assembly. The church of God is a congregation, made up of all kinds of people on earth, called out from the world through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to be followers of Christ.

The Bible says to the church, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Since the church has been called out from the world, the church shouldn't look like the world. It's not a social club, it's not entertainment, it doesn't tolerate sin. It's not money-making organization, it's not a brand or a company, it's not a magic show full of illusions. It's not a platform for politics or new philosophies. The church is not a denomination or a building.

The true church is a people, sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption, assembling together in the name of Christ, who gave Himself for us, dying on the cross, "to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:14).

The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is the head, growing us together in Him. The church is the bride of Christ, being sanctified by His word. The church is the work of Christ, and hell will not prevail against it. Rather, His church will prevail against hell, when we understand the text.